Maximizing your space without maxing out your budget is no mean feat, but one simple interior design technique can help you to inject a feeling of elegance and luxury into your home for little to no money.
The "rule of thirds" is a trick to create a balanced-looking room, no matter its size, and it's one that many interior designers rely on to give a space an elevated look.
Whether you're planning to stay in your home or put it on the market, the secret to making your home look more expensive doesn't have to cost a fortune.
Jordan Suber, real estate agent and co-founder of The Elite Real Estate in Austin, TX, shared his advice on using "proportions as your guide."
In a Facebook Reel, Suber highlighted how the scale of your trim, such as baseboards or crown molding, should complement the room's size.
"Classic design often follows the 'rule of thirds' to create balanced proportions," said Suber.
Baseboards
Suber explained the proportions for the baseboard to ceiling height. For an 8-foot ceiling, baseboards should be 4 to 6 inches.
For 9-foot ceilings, he suggested going for 5 to 8 inches for a stronger presence.
If you have 10-foot ceilings or higher, baseboards can range from 8 to 10 inches to suit the room's height.
Depending on the size of the baseboards, they can start at $20 for about 7 feet of laminate trim.
Crown molding
When it comes to crown molding—which is located where the wall meets the ceiling—an 8-foot ceiling should aim for 3 to 5 inches of crown molding.
A 9-foot ceiling should have crown molding that's between 4 to 7 inches.
For a ceiling that's 10 feet or higher, Suber said to consider "7 to 12 inches, or even layering molding for a more dramatic effect."
Crown molding starts at $16 for 12 feet of primed wood.
Chair rails
For homeowners who wish to install chair rails, Suber said to place them about a third of the way up the wall (roughly 32 inches for an 8-foot ceiling).
Wainscoting should "follow a similar height, around a third to half the wall height," said Suber.
For formal spaces, opt for wider, more detailed trim, he said. "In casual spaces, keep trim simpler and slightly smaller."
Chair rails cost about the same as the other trims. Prices can start at around $10 for primed wood, but it also comes in smaller lengths.
Door and window casings
For an 8-foot ceiling, Suber suggested casings should be at least 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide. For a taller ceilings, consider casings up to 5 inches for a "balanced look."
To ensure consistency across rooms, Suber said trim should feel "cohesive throughout the home. Avoid mismatching small and oversized trim in different rooms to maintain a unified flow."
Balance
In addition to proportions, you want to consider weight, Suber said. "Thin trim in taller spaces can seem insignificant, while large trim in small rooms can feel overpowering."
He said to find a balance that complements each room without "overwhelming" it.
Spring selling
Realtor.com® economists identified the week of April 13-19 as the best time to sell because it has the right balance of housing market conditions that favor home sellers. A survey from Realtor.com found that the majority (53%) of home sellers took one month or less to get their home ready to list.
Once a seller gets an interested buyer, the negotiations begin, but when it comes to making concessions to buyers, Suber offered this: "If their agent properly explained the state of the market and went over pricing—then yes, they (sellers) are open to concessions or price adjustments, but are normally more open to it once they are under contract and can see direct feedback from the inspection on 'why' they (buyer) want a concession."
